Information published on 10 April 2018 in the UIC electronic newsletter "UIC eNews"
Nr 593.

Kazakhstan: First container train operates between Altynkol station on the route between Lodz and Chengdu

Asia Pacific

News from UIC members

A container train was operated for the first time between Altynkol station on the Kazakhstan border on the route from Lodz (Poland) - Chandu (China).

The train composed of 41 forty-foot containers, which passed through Altynkol station, was processed at the Dry Port of the SEZ “Khorgos - Eastern Gate”.

“A container train will make regular trips from Poland to China will travel regularly through the Kazakhstan station of Altynkol from Poland to China,” said A. Karimov, Director of the Container Transportation Department of KTZ Express JSC, and explained that “the redirection of cargo flows from the interstate point of the Dostyk-Alashankou crossing to Altynkol-Khorgos increases the processing speed of trains coming from a narrow railway track (1435 mm) to a wide gauge (1520 mm), including customs clearance.”

According to A. Karimov, the entire infrastructure of the Dry Port of the SEZ “Khorgos - Eastern Gate” and Altynkol station are ready to handle a large cargo flow in the direction of China-Europe-China.

The development of international cargo flows through the SEZ “Khorgos-Eastern Gate” and the availability of competitive transport products will contribute to the expansion of the geography of transportation along international transport corridors passing through Kazakhstan.

In 2017, 201 thousand TEU were transported through Kazakhstan by the direction of China-Europe-China. In 2018 this figure is expected to reach 346 thousand TEU.